Rockhopper Exploration plc has announced that Dr John Summers has been appointed to the Board as a Non-Executive Director.

Board Change at Rockhopper

By J. Brock (FINN)

Rockhopper Exploration plc has announced that Dr John Summers has been appointed to the Board as a Non-Executive Director.

This appointment follows that of Keith Lough, also as a Non-Executive Director, as the Company looks to fulfil its commitment to first class corporate governance by ensuring the Board's continued independence and effectiveness are maintained by the appointment of new members of the highest quality whilst directors of long tenure step down. In this regard, John Crowle who was appointed as Non-Executive Director in 2005 will retire before the next AGM, having served a term approaching the nine years considered by the UK Corporate Governance Code to be relevant to the determination of a director's independence.

Dr Arthur John Summers, 58, is a geologist with degrees from the University of Liverpool. He worked for British Gas / BG Group for 29 years holding a variety of roles from Exploration Manager, Vice President Exploration, Chief Geologist, General Manager Technology and Performance and VP New Ventures. He was a member of the Exploration Management team that delivered world-leading exploration performance for over a decade. He also served in Non-Executive roles at Composite Energy, The Industry Technology Facilitator (ITF) and was a Trustee of the BG Group Final Salary Pension Scheme.

Rockhopper also confirms that Peter Dixon-Clarke, Finance Director, has now stepped down from the Board but will continue to act in an interim consultancy role for the Company to ensure continuity within the finance department. The Company is at an advanced stage in the search for a new Finance Director.

"I am delighted that, with John Summers' appointment, we have made another very strong addition to the Board. John's track record in - and enthusiasm for - the global exploration and production industry will assist us greatly as we move the Company forward over the coming years, and look forward to another drilling campaign in the Falklands. Following the discovery, successful appraisal and subsequent farm-out of the Sea Lion oil field, the Company has been putting in place the foundations for the next stage of its development. In addition to the two non-executive appointments, this includes the recently announced appointment of Fiona MacAulay as COO and the upcoming appointment of a new CFO,” said Pierre Jungels, Rockhopper Exploration's Chairman.

Mr Jungels went on to say that he would also take this opportunity to thank John Crowle and Peter Dixon-Clarke for their long and unstinting service as members of the Board.